Friends, companions, Don Beigon smiled warmly around at the individuals. The fat and greedy assembled fish stank with self-satisfaction, all bottom feeders with diocre images and entitlent dripping off their swollen bodies. Im so glad youve agreed to et with today. Considering the circumstances Ill skip right to the crux of this important issue. The Nether Lattice was a Nexus institution too important to simply allow it to fade with the death of Lathis. The damage to the structure is significant, but that can be overco with concerted effort. Especially with all the specialized capability assembled here.
His opening comnts earned a few nervous chuckles. A few of the larger invitees fidgeted at the back, sweat beginning to bead on their skin. At first, Don Beigon had worried that the actions of the Actus Suprem would undercut his plan before he could gather all the relevant pieces, but in the end, it only added a bit of ripe desperation to these individuals.
They were canny to have survived in the cutthroat environnt of the Nexus, but even the most powerful individuals developed blindspots while in the grips of fear.
What do you propose, Don? One of the attendees, an amorphous being composed almost entirely of crackling storm clouds, asked the carefully pitched rumbles of thunder.
Don Beigon leaned back. He was not eager. He was certain and confident. Yet at the sa ti, he let his studiously controlled features show. I plan on calling in a portion of the debts owed to and have those fortunate individuals join the Nether Lattice in lieu of typical paynt. Well, honestly, isnt it almost like I am doing them a favor? I am well aware of the capability given to esteed figures within the Nether Lattice. They should be grateful for the chance at power.
Several individuals murmured their interest as the group considered this news. A humanoid hawk retained her suspicions. Yet why would you do this for us, Don? And why now?
I do this now because we have a period of instability approaching; surely you can feel it in the air. Surely you have noticed rogue elents attempting to establish tiny little kingdoms of their own within the wider Nexus. While Im sure Elhu will eventually bring these elents into alignnt given enough ti, it also cannot be denied that Elhu has his vision focused on higher concerns. Don Beigon spread his hands wide. In the anti, a firm hand is required to protect the valuable institutions we have built.
How different is your little estate here from those rebel kingdoms? The hawk snorted. Certainly, youve spared no expense reinforcing your walls.
The Don ignored the tone; the fact that she was here and had already eaten his food ant that tiny variances in attitude wouldnt affect the outco at all. As to your first question, in exchange for this assistance, I hope for two boons. First, I hope the revived Nether Lattice and I will maintain a close relationship. Truly, I believe instability is coming friends in this ti will be more valuable than any other currency. Secondly I would like the insight of the assembled personages to help condense a Nether Core of my very own.
He allowed his very real desperation to accomplish this now leak the tiniest bit into his voice. Too much would be revealed as lodrama, too little wouldnt instill them with the overconfidence he wished to trigger.
From just a glance around, he knew he had succeeded.
Already, the Don could see the smirking certainty of these individuals; believing they had sniffed out his true aim, they would hem and haw and talk about the impossibility of housing a Nether-style Core within an Aether body. Obviously, they would say pretty things about providing him with a powerful core outside of the Nether Lattice but they would also sink hooks into him they could manipulate from a higher tier within the Nether Lattice.
A perfect position, The Don looked around with a calm smile. For when a Reversal of Fortune grants everything Ive deserved. And the weapon to carve vengeance into your body, Elhu.
*****
Her hands cramped. She ignored it. She adjusted her grip and allowed a breath to hiss out her teeth. More than physical concerns, it was her attention that now wavered.
While Actus Suprem Devick felt a constant throw thrum of satisfaction from feeling so many individuals giving her a de facto no but resisting her chains and then she dragged out their Grand Fates anyway, it was possible that too much of a good thing existed. Even joy beca predictable. The toil strengthened her image, allowed her to blossom unexpectedly in a whole new direction, but the reality of her situation was she had beco a day laborer, hauling on chains to bring the unruly peasantry into line.
Truly, a misuse of her significant talents. Devick shook her head and then rattled the chain of a particularly desperate individual. Feeling the shock of their pain usually cheered her up, yet now it had beco a mundane occurrence. A hundred other opportunities to prod such a weakness were available to her. She could only sigh while yanking to take advantage of their pitiable capability.
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Yet right when the tedium seed to have reached its height, a challenger appeared at the head of a small army, Randidly Ghosthound appeared. Her knight with darkness in his eyes and an admirable amount of rage bubbling in his chest. He rushed through the opening at the far end of the chamber, prepared for war.
Instantly, his gaze locked on her position. He took wide strides and approached her without even a flicker of hesitation.
She suppressed a smile; yes, truly this one was her son.
However, her good mood vanished when he arrived and looked at her for a mont, he didnt even greet her!, and then scanned the surroundings. The Actus Suprem paused in her labor and pursed her lips. Perhaps fat on the easy pleasure of cruelty, her anger didnt rouse itself quickly. Not even acknowledging to your Actus Suprem? I must say, Randidly, I do not like the dearth of manners you are now demonstrating.
Actus Suprem, His voice had deepened since they had last spoken, edged with more weight and authority so the sonic shapes hung briefly in the air. Yet the action still clearly had been motivated more by habit than respect, which made her emotions curdle.
Yet, for all that, his attention settled entirely on her. His eyes were painted with contrasts, an infinite darkness in his pupils, the brilliant revelry of spring growth in his irises. He looked at her uniform, her face, her hands wrapped around the multitude of small connections. You need to drop those connections, Actus Suprem. You are hurting people without any justification.
Devick blinked, the picture of innocence. For all that this was her child, he displayed his vulnerabilities so proudly to the world. But I am simply following orders.
Randidly gave her a look so frank it earned a giggle out of Devick. If it didnt amuse you, there is no order in the world you would bother to heed. Please, Actus Suprem. Devick. Drop those connections. Let those Grand Fates go. If you do it, right now we can at least stay what we currently are.
Their eyes t. He had spoken so directly, touching upon the pivot they had now reached.
This ti, it was Devicks smile that curdled, bubbling and twisting unevenly across her face. Ah. so weve finally arrived at this juncture. Is it not pleasurable, the weight of a naked threat in your hand, my sweet Randidly? Youve grown up so quickly. For my edification what will you do if I refuse? If I continue- For emphasis, Devick rattled the chains she held in her hands and earned the narrowing of his eyes. -to be amused by their pathetic resistance?
We fight, Randidly Ghosthound produced his spear. He pointed the gleaming tip toward her chest. And I prove you arent invincible.
Ah, Randidly, Devicks heart fluttered. Happiness and sadness moved together as a complete whole. Her awareness sharpened, the boredom passed. Because, while this was perhaps predictable, it was also inevitable. That the son would crave the flesh of the mother. That only with overwhelming power could she maintain her hierarchical position above him. Such an action should not be undertaken casually.
I think we both know I would not have made it here if my disposition was casual, Randidly growled.
Devick could only laugh. For the first ti in years, she felt fragile. What they had, the slow journey of the Ghosthound rising and assuming his proper place as her son, hurtled toward a breaking point. And Devick loved breaking things. But she also loved this, the tension between them, the not knowing how and where their bond would be crushed and pulped and annihilated and devoured.
She felt a molten jab of jealousy. She wished she could reach out and shred the soul of her other version and then live in her skin. Randidly Ghosthound would be hers in another way. She wouldnt need to break off their connection now.
She flicked the chains, comforting herself in the suffering she felt on the other end, as the elites of the Nexus rolled and struggled. Why is it, whenever I think Ive found happiness, a dark interloper always arrives to take it away? This long shadow cast across my life is it truly impossible to escape?
Devick shed those emotions a split second after experiencing them; right now, they were just a distraction. In her place, the Actus Suprem stretched and smiled with lips and hair as red as blood. I have craved this mont for a very, very long ti Randidly Ghosthound. Do not leave disappointed. You pride yourself on your firm disposition? Show it to .
She felt the resulting surge in his image power and relished in it. His face curled, a mass of negative emotions she had inflicted upon him. Her own joy grew and grew, expanding to fill her body. She knew, fueled by this emotion, she would be able to make so serious headway on gathering the Grand Fates like this.
However, Devick felt the shift in the air behind her and her expression fell. Tch, minor characters always choose the most narcissistic tis to reassert themselves cant they tell we were approaching a climax? But I suppose a great pleasure delayed is great pleasure spread
The crackling maelstrom of Elhus energy form walked across the large dais. His presence had tripled after he had gone to gather additional foci for his great will. The Second Fist: Vengeance.
The wounds Randidly had inflicted on him beca ammunition and Elhu unleashed his whole stockpile with a fist that warped the edges of the Grand Fate formation when it passed. Devicks chains rattled, torn between enjoying the violence and wanting to slither up and capture this new strike.
In the end, Devick winked at Randidly, gave a what can you do shrug, and then turned back to her own labor. Her ti would definitely co. As much as she hated it, her current role required patience.
Randidly scowled and growled, but his attention pivoted toward Elhu.
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